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VC Electrical Contractors Ltd
15 Muirfield Station
Gullane
EH31 2HY
Read our range of topical monthly blogs providing you with top tips and best practice from our professional and experienced electrical team.
CCTV cameras act as a deterrent as well as helping you to capture footage of would-be criminals who venture on to your property. They can range from simple security systems to more sophisticated technology, and if you run a business, it's crucial you invest in some good quality CCTV equipment. Today in this post, we're going to be taking a look at the benefits of having CCTV cameras on your property and why its important.
Read MoreEICR stands for Electrical Installation Condition Report and its a periodic electrical inspection of your property to make sure everything is working as it should. It examines all electrical installations, reporting any faults that need to be rectified. This report is governed by the British Standard 7671 and this must be adhered to while the inspection is being carried out.
Read MoreOnce you've finished with an electrical appliance do you find yourself wondering how to dispose of it? It is a bit of a minefield, because you know it's probably not a good idea to put it in your bin as it will end up on a landfill site. That's not good. An electrical appliance decomposes on a landfill site over time, it can contaminate the soil and water.
Read MoreIf you're looking to hire an electrician in Edinburgh then you're probably looking for skills, qualifications and training. Naturally, experience, knowledge and expertise are all important factors. What we're suggesting today in this post, is that you choose a Select registered electrician to install your electrical installations and to repair your electrical faults. Select is one of the most influential and most trustworthy organisations in Scotland, so read on to find out more about them, and why it's in your interests to hire Select registered electricians.
Read MoreOne of the most important responsibilities as a landlord is to ensure your tenants safety throughout the duration of their tenancy. There are many different ways you can do this, but today's focus will be on smoke alarms. It is now required that a landlord is to make sure each apartment or house has a smoke alarm, and that is what we will be talking about today. As well as smoke alarms, from 1st December of last year (2015), landlords were required to have carbon monoxide alarms fitted where there was a fixed combustion appliance. This is an add on to the requirement to have smoke alarms.
Read MoreChoosing an electrician can be a minefield. It's important that you choose the right one, because if you end up with someone who doesn't really know what he's doing, you could put your family's lives at risk. That's one risk not worth taking, so why don't you read our guide on choosing an electrician in Edinburgh, and find one that helps you to solve your electrical problems safely.
Read MoreSince may of 2015, new legislation means that homeowners and landlords have to prove that all new electrical work and changes to existing wiring meet with the new rules, and your local authority now have the right to remove or force you to change any electrical work you have carried out if it doesn’t. It’s important therefore that you contract an electrician in Edinburgh that is registered with a government approved scheme, otherwise known as a ‘registered installer’, for all electrical work carried out in your home.
Read MoreWe are surrounded by electrical appliances in our homes and so it’s important to understand the risks involved, especially to children. However, that said, there aren’t as many injuries per year involving electricity like electric shocks as you might think. In fact, there is on average less than 60 children (under 15 years old) admitted to hospital after an electric shock per annum, compared to almost 50,000 being admitted due to falls.
Read MoreElectricity is a vital part of modern life, but it can cause fire, injury, and even death. Ensuring that your electrics are in good working condition doesn’t take much effort, and it can save you from serious consequences. Here’s a quick look at what you need to consider in order to make your home safe. If you find a fault, or aren’t sure about something, get in touch with a qualified Edinburgh electrician.
Read MoreChristmas should be a magical time of year. But one small oversight, or a tiny electrical fault could spoil everything. From electric lights and decorations to fresh Christmas trees, Christmas brings with it a whole host of additional fire hazards. There’s no need for safety fears to take the joy out of Christmas. All you need is to exercise a little extra caution, and you can enjoy the festive period while avoiding any accidents. Here are some tips from an electrician in Edinburgh about staying safe this Christmas.
Read MoreSmall problems with the electrics on your business premises could hint at bigger issues with your wiring. In the case of faulty wiring, damaged cabling and fixtures will need to be removed so that new, safe wiring can be installed. There are no guidelines set in stone regarding when a property has to be rewired. However there are some simple things to look out for, and an electrician in Edinburgh can always provide a professional opinion after a thorough inspection of your premises.
Read MoreElectricity can be very dangerous when it goes wrong. Electrical work on your premises is not the kind of thing you want or can afford to have done badly. Poor workmanship, cheap components, or unfinished jobs can be inconvenient and even cause serious risks. How would your business cope if someone received a serious electric shock or the premises caught fire due to a faulty electrical installation? There could be serious financial and criminal penalties.
Read MoreLED - which stands for light emitting diode - lighting is a vast improvement upon previous technologies. More and more businesses are using commercial LED lighting. It creates a more comfortable, practical environment, while being environmentally friendly and helping to cut costs.
Read MoreElectric central heating offers a whole host of benefits to homeowners. It can be a real asset to your home and your finances, providing you with an affordable and convenient way of staying warm and comfortable all year round
Read MoreOnce this report has been carried out, you should be given a copy of the report. This will include the date the inspection was carried out. The address of your house, the name and address of the landlord, if this is applicable, and the name and address of the electrician who’s carried out the inspection. Importantly, this should include evidence of the electrician’s competence to carry out the inspection.
Read MoreYou probably only ever pay attention to your fusebox when a switch is tripped. Also called fuse boards or consumer units, the fusebox sits away in a corner somewhere, quietly keeping you safe from the potential dangers of electricity. Should something go wrong, it is your fusebox that will protect you from the risk of electrocution or fire.
Read MoreIf you’re moving into a new property you may be wondering if the wiring is safe, you may be thinking about making changes such as electrical rewiring. However, the wiring may be of concern to you if the property is over 25 years old – or least it should be.
There are certain clues to look out for and here we’re going to take a look at what should be your primary concern when considering electrical rewiring Edinburgh, in this friendly guide, so read on.
As we’ve already pointed out if your property is over 25 years old then it’s more than likely you’ll have to consider electrical rewiring, especially if you’re considering remodelling and carrying out major alterations. Your new electrical rewiring will need to conform to Part P: Electrical rewiring of the Building Regulations too. You’ll also in all likelihood need to replace the fuse box.
If your wiring is old then there are things you can look out for such as, cables coated in black rubber, lead or fabric. Check that the fuse box has a wooden back and if there are cast iron switches. You can also keep an eye out for round pin sockets (rather than the square ones we’re more accustomed to), flex with braiding that hangs from a ceiling rose and also look out for brown and black switches that are on skirting boards, and any wall mounted switches in bathrooms.
All of the above has probably been installed during the 1960s and will need changing along with the fuse box in order to be safe and to pass any safety checks under the Building Regulations.
You need to prepare the house before you let the electricians start work – this will make their job so much easier. You need to decide what it is you need doing from the outset, and this will make the job far more straightforward and less costly for you. If you change your mind halfway through because you’ve remembered something else you need doing as part of the rewiring job plans will have to be changed.
We aim to minimise disruption with dust, noise and mess during electrical rewiring using advanced equipment that helps us clean as we go. Don’t worry most electricians, including ourselves, will do a full clear up after they’ve finished as well as the ongoing tidying. It should take from a week to 10 days to complete, maybe less. There’ll be a team of electricians, up to 3, and they’ll start from the top and work their way down.
Here at VC Electrical we like to make sure we know and understand exactly want you want and you know from us what to expect. That means the lines of communication should be open at all times and we feel that communicating with our customers is of paramount importance.
If you feel there are still certain aspects electrical rewiring in Edinburgh you’re not sure about or you’re worried about something, then get in touch and we’ll talk things through with you. You don’t have to choose us for your rewiring in Edinburgh, but if you do, you’ll have a professional, experienced and well qualified team of electricians on your side every step of the way, making sure that your rewiring job is done well, with minimum fuss and in a timely fashion.
PAT testing is short for Portable Appliance Testing, and if you’re a business or a landlord, then you’ll you need to know exactly what it is. If you don’t, and an accident occurs as a result of faulty appliances you supplied at your business or rented property, then you could be liable. PAT testing in Edinburgh is carried out to test electrical equipment and to decide whether it’s in a good enough condition to use, this is usually carried out by a qualified electrician and it’s up to you to hire one that knows what he/she is doing.
If you run a business then it’s your responsibility to ensure all appliances that you’ve supplied (and not that of your tenant or employee) is safe to use for all those that will be using it. It’s usually carried out on a yearly basis, although it can depend on the nature of the appliance and what it’s used for. Although it’s not a legal requirement, The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989, do ask that you test any electrical appliance that could potentially harm someone.
This is done by a competent and fully qualified electrician in order to make sure the electrical equipment is safe to use, checking visible signs of damage to plugs, cables, wires and casing. This way it can be removed without risk of harm. These simple visual checks should be made when new equipment has been installed, moved, or as part of the yearly check-up.
If equipment becomes faulty or it’s based in a laboratory, workshop or a surgical theatre, it’s a high risk area and will become part of a formal visual inspection. You will need a competently qualified and trained electrician to carry this out, someone who’s been through a training course and is now an authorised PAT tester. This will involve disconnecting the appliances form the electrical supply, removing the plugs and casings to check that they are properly secure with the right fuse. They will be checked for internal damage too to make sure they don’t contain anything that shouldn’t be there, such as dust, dirt or any liquids.
Everything that uses an electricity supply should be tested, and although this is commonly done on a yearly basis, if you have new equipment, you should have it tested, especially if it’s in a high risk area. You should carry out a risk assessment on any new appliances and make a judgement on whether you believe anything needs a PAT test. Your risk assessment should give you a good idea. Although it’s not a legal requirement, you’ll find that making sure your equipment has been tested and given the all clear, will give both you and your employees, or tenants, peace of mind.
We are a team of reliable, experienced and fully qualified technicians with expertise in PAT testing. We can test your appliances for you – giving them the all clear when it’s safe to do so and informing you of any changes that require immediately action.
Get in touch if you need to discuss PAT testing for your business or rented accommodation and let’s see what we can do for you.
New legislation from the December 1st 2015 regarding landlord electrical safety will force private landlords to do everything necessary to make sure their property is safe for habitation with a set of stringent electrical safety tests carried out by an expert.
These changes have been brought about in order to reduce the serious injuries and deaths caused each year by domestic fires, which have been caused by electrical faults. This will mean that everyone in the UK, including Scotland, will need to make sure all their hard wiring and appliances undergo electrical safety tests regularly, in order to make sure they’re safe.
If you’re a landlord, then you have reason to pay attention to this change, because your rented property will need to be inspected regularly by someone qualified and competent enough to carry these tests out. What you’ll need to do is find a professional who is qualified to do this on your behalf.
Not many people are aware of the changes in legislation at the moment, but it is something everyone will need to make sure they know and understand over the coming months. The legislation has been brought in to protect those who may be vulnerable to fire caused by faults in electrical wiring, this can be dangerous and cost lives. In order to prove that you have your tenant’s safety a priority you will be expected to have these electrical safety tests carried out regularly.
Because of this new legislation, all landlords who rent out private property will have to have fixed wiring checks every 5 years. And it applies to all new tenancies form the 1 December 2015, and it will also apply to any existing tenant who are signing a new lease.
The EICR is the Electrical Installation Condition Report which takes places when the electrician tests your wiring. The EICR will also have to include a Portable Appliance Test, or PAT. These tests will only be carried out on appliances that belong to the landlord and not the tenant. As you can imagine this report is completely thorough and will include everything which uses the electrical supply, and should appear on both either the EICR or the PAT report. Basically, unless any electrical appliances belong to the tenant, they should be tested. One important aspect of all this is that any electrician who carries out these tests on behalf of a landlord, must be competent, and a member of a regulatory body such as NICEIC or SELECT.
If not then you may be starting to feel a little concerned. Don’t worry, at VC Electrical, we have qualified, trained and knowledgeable electricians and technicians who are experts in this area. We are qualified to carry out tests of this nature on all your electrical wiring and appliances, making sure everything is as it should be and safe and habitable for your tenants.
We come with years of experience and we’re proud of what we’ve achieved. Customer satisfaction is our number 1 priority and we can provide your EICR and PAT testing so you and your tenants have peace of mind. Don’t lose sleep over it, just do something about it, let us carry out your landlord electrical safety tests, it’s a far better option than doing nothing.
Make sure you’re ready for the 1st December 2015 and let VC Electrical carry out your tests. Get in touch today.